comprised essentially of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "comprised essentially of" is not considered correct in standard English usage.
The correct form is "composed of" or "comprised of," as "comprise" means to include or contain. Example: "The committee is comprised of experts from various fields."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It is the last mom-and-pop-shop industry in the United States, comprised essentially of small companies that pull up every day on a project in panel trucks.

The New York Times

Critically for BMW fans, the brand's award-winning in-line six-cylinder engine is a close relation of this family – being comprised essentially of two of the Mini's three-cylinder engines, cast as one.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The O157 genome comprises essentially of a K12 chromosomal backbone that is interspersed with regions of insertions and deletions.

BMC Genomics

The human proteome comprised essentially one representative protein sequence for each currently known human gene.

Database : the journal of biological databases and curation

The siliceous oozes include radiolarian ooze, comprising essentially brown clay with more than 30 percent of the skeletons of warm-water protozoa, and diatom ooze, containing the frustules (tiny shells) of diatoms.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This green geopolymer comprising essentially of waste materials was found to be viable as a stabilized subgrade material.

Construction and Building Materials

The Africa Minor of the ancients, it at one time included Moorish Spain and now comprises essentially the Atlas Mountains and the coastal plain of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For better or worse, the universe of credit-rating agencies comprises essentially three (Moody's, S&P and Fitch ).

Forbes

The uranium component comprises 11.7%6d-and6d-and88.3%f-orbital contributions with no 7s or 7p components whereas the nitrogen component comprises essentially 100%% 2p-orbital character, in agreement with the π-bonding nature of these orbitals.

Angewandte Chemie - International Edition

The genus Erwinia comprises essentially plant-associated bacteria.

BMC Genomics

Basommatophora (Gastropoda: Pulmonata) is a suborder comprising essentially all pulmonate gastropods living in freshwater.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer using "comprised of", "composed of", or "consists of" for clarity and grammatical correctness. Ensure that "comprise" is used to mean 'to include' or 'to contain', not 'to be made up of'.

Common error

Avoid using "comprised essentially of" because "comprise" already means 'to consist of' or 'to include'. Using "essentially" in this context is redundant and grammatically awkward. Instead, use "composed essentially of" or rephrase the sentence to use "comprised of" alone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "comprised essentially of" functions as a descriptive phrase, attempting to specify the main components or elements of something. However, Ludwig AI indicates that it's generally considered grammatically incorrect due to the redundancy of "essentially of" with "comprised."

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

31%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "comprised essentially of" appears in various sources, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect due to redundancy. Ludwig AI highlights that "comprise" already means 'to consist of' or 'to include'. Better alternatives include "composed essentially of", "comprised of", or other phrases like "composed mainly of" and "consisting primarily of". Therefore, it's advisable to avoid "comprised essentially of" in formal writing to maintain clarity and grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

composed mainly of

Focuses on the major components without necessarily implying exclusivity or essence.

consisting primarily of

Highlights the primary elements that make up something, with less emphasis on absolute necessity.

made up largely of

Indicates that the majority of the components are of a particular type.

primarily constituted by

A more formal way of expressing the main elements that form something.

basically composed of

Emphasizes the fundamental components that constitute something.

fundamentally comprised of

Highlights the basic and essential elements.

largely formed from

Focuses on the process of formation and the dominant elements involved.

chiefly composed of

Indicates the main or principal components.

mainly constituted of

Similar to 'composed mainly of' but slightly more formal.

principally consisting of

Highlights the principal elements that make up the whole.

FAQs

Is "comprised essentially of" grammatically correct?

No, "comprised essentially of" is generally considered incorrect. The verb "comprise" already means 'to consist of' or 'to include', so adding "essentially of" is redundant. It's better to use "composed essentially of" or simply "comprised of".

What's a better alternative to "comprised essentially of"?

More appropriate alternatives include "composed mainly of", "consisting primarily of", or the simpler and more direct "comprised of". These options avoid the redundancy and awkwardness of "comprised essentially of".

How can I use "comprise" correctly in a sentence?

Use "comprise" to mean 'to include' or 'to contain'. For example, "The committee comprises members from various departments". Do not use it to mean 'is comprised of'; instead, use "is composed of" or "consists of".

What is the difference between "comprised of" and "composed of"?

While both phrases indicate what something is made of, "composed of" is generally preferred. "comprised of" is acceptable, but some usage guides recommend reserving "comprise" to mean 'to include' or 'to contain', not 'to be made up of'.